The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy was created to ensure that renewable energy

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...

, sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...

, and conservation

Energy conservation

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...

 were top issues in the 2008 Presidential election. It brought together 2008 Presidential Candidates to generate discussion and foster innovation.

Presidential Candidate Forum

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy sponsored a presidential candidate forum on the afternoon of Saturday, November 17, 2007 at the Wadsworth Theater in Los Angeles. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards

John Edwards

Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...

 confirmed their participation, and we continue to work on lining up additional candidates to round out the event.

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy joined forces with leading environmental organizations to hold a single joint forum on global warming and renewable energy. Their partner organizations in hosting the event included the Natural Resources Defense Council

Natural Resources Defense Council

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a New York City-based, non-profit, non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing...

, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Center for American Progress.

Nationwide Student Essay Contest

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy also sponsored a nationwide college student essay contest asking students to submit a Renewable Energy Plan for America. By engaging students, they encouraged them to incorporate an awareness of energy conservation into their everyday lives. A professional grading company along with board members of the Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy evaluated the essays and chose three first place winners. The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy awarded a $10,000 educational prize to each of these three renewable energy scholars.